Heat oven to 300°
The recipe says to dissolve the brown sugar, maple syrup and olive oil until the sugar has melted - but, I have just tossed everything together without doing that step and it works. It clumps better if you do this step - but I see no difference in flavor.
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
Fold the above into the mixture of:
2 3/4 cups rolled oats (I use 3 cups)
1 cup shelled pistachios
1 cup unsweetened coconut chips
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon kosher salt - this seems like a lot of salt - and you can taste it - but it balances with the sweetness. I've made the recipe with less - and it's fine with less - just depends on how much you like salty foods.
Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet - or on a silicone baking mat - for 35-40 minutes.
The recipe says to stir it a couple times while baking - but, it turns out fine if you do not stir it. I think it clumps better if you do not stir it.
Bake until it is dry and light golden. It will not be hard and crispy until it cools. It will smell delicious when it's done. I have over cooked it, waiting for it to be *dry* - and it was still ok - but it's better when it's just golden. The sugar gives it a shine - that looks wet - so go by smell.
The recipe calls for 3/4 cup dried cherries - to be mixed in after the granola has cooled and you are putting it into an airtight container - which I have done. Dried cranberries would be fine - or raisins. I do not miss the dried fruit if I don't add it.
